Paper feeding apparatus for typing devices



May 18, 1937. H. D. ALLEN V PAPER FEEDING APPARATUS FOR TYPING DEVICES Filed Sept.-

I INVENTOR H. 0. ALLEN ATTORNV Patented May 18, 1937 PAPER FEEDING APPARATUS FOR TYPING DEVICES Howard D. Allen, Passaic, N. J., assignor to American Telephone and Telegraph Company, a corporation of New York Application September 10, 1932, Serial No. 632,593

11 Claims.

. This invention relates to improvements in machines for typing upon stationery and more particularly to that class of typewriting machines which have a cylindrical platen and which are ordinarily used for printing upon multicopy stationery.

One feature of this invention is the provision in a typewriter of a plurality .of studded endless belts for feeding sprocket feed stationery having perforations therein. Since the studs on the belts fit into the perforations in the stationery, and since the belts are geared to the platen of the typewriter, the stationery is fed through the typewriter in step with the rotation of the platen.

Another feature is the provision in a typewriter of a plurality of pressure rollers for feeding plain stationery through the typewriter. These pressure rollers press against the platen to that in which the platen rotates by means of spring belts connected thereto. Due to this special construction,-buckling' of the layers of sheets of stationery is prevented.

Another feature is the provision in a typewriter of arrangements for feeding either plain stationery or sprocket feed stationery having perforations therein. vThis feature includes the use of both friction and positive drive feeding arrangements and disabling means for disabling the positive drive feeding arrangement when plain stationery is to be fed through the typewriter.

Another feature is the use in a typewriter 35 of separating rods for separating layers of sheets of stationery. By means of these rods each sheet of stationery is given a different length of travel around the platen. This allows the differential in longitudinal alinement of themdividual sheets of multicopy stationery to be adjusted.

Another feature is the feeding of multicopystationery horizontally through a typewriter in such a manner that the stationery approaches 45 the printing point of the platen at a tangent.

This reduces the amount of longitudinal mis-,

copy stationery is passed around a curved sur-- 65 face. The stationery is pro-misalined longituand are designed to rotate in a direction counter dinally only in respect to the printing already upon the individual sheets. The marginal perforations which are required for sprocket feed are not pre-misalined. The result is that, upon arriving at the printing point, the printing already upon the individual sheets is now in alinement and the perforations are now misalined longitudinally. Since the perforations are not usedfor feeding purposes after the stationery arrives at the platen, the resulting misalinement has no detrimental effects.

A modification of the invention is the use in a typewriter of a vertical feeding arrangement for completely avoiding that type of longitudinal misalinement which occurs when multil5 copy stationery is passed around the curved surface of a cylindrical platen.

The invention will now be illustrated by describing it as applied to a teletypewriter. It is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to teletypewriters, but is, in general, applicable to all typewriters.

The following'description is-to be read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which only those portions of a teletypewriter are shown that are necessary for the purpose of illustrating the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a preferred form of the friction feeding arrangement;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of'a portion of the arrangement shownin Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows the optional application of separati g rods to the arrangement shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a view of an alternative vertical feed-. ing arrangement.

Fig. 1 shows sprocket feed multicopy stationery I; having marginal perforations 2 there- 40 in being fed through a teletypewriter by means of a preferred form of the positive drive feeding arrangement. Stationery I enters the teletypewriter from the rear, passes along flat plate 3 having grooves 4, 4 out along its sides, and rfieets endless belts 5, 5 having studs 6 thereon. It may be observed that studs 6 pass along grooves 4, 4 in plate 3. Belts 5, 5 have perforations 1 therein to engage with teeth 8 on pulley wheel? 9, 9 rigidly fastened to a common axle Ill. Also rigidly fastened to axle I0 is gear wheel I I.

Gear ll co-acts with gear wheel 12 which is on axle l3. Axle I 3 idlyrotates in supports (not shown). Gear I2 co-acts also with gear M which is rigidly fastened to axle l5. Platen I3 is rigidly fastened to axle which is abling means mustbeusedto raise the lower pordriven by some such means as the power supply (not shown) of the teletypewriter. Gears II, 2 and M are of such a size and are so arranged that belts 5, 5 are caused to rotate in step with the rotation of platen i3.

. If desired, another set of gears, similar to gears i2 and I4 may-be located upon the other side'of the teletypewriter. For the sake of clarity in the drawing these have not been shown. I Belts 5, 5 also pass over adjustably mounted idler pulleys n, [1 and i3, i3 and under rods, or rollers l9 and 23. Pulleys i1, i1 and roller l3 are so located in respect to plate 3 that belts 5, 5 approach plate 3 at such an angle that studs 3 are nearly vertical when they contact with stationery I. Due to this special construction, studs 3 readily fit into perforations 2 without any tearing of stationery l. I

Pulleys i3, I3 and roller 23 are similarly located with respect to'plate 3 in order that studs 3 may readily disengage themselves from perforations 2. To facilitate this disengagement a combined stripper and'guide plate 2| is used, After having been stripped from studs 5 oi belts 5, 5 by plate 2|, stationery passes between 'plate 2| and guide form 22. From there, it passes between platen l3 and pressure rollers 23, 23 and then out of the teletypewriter Thus, by means of the positive drive feeding arrangement comprising the engagement-oi studs 3 of belt 5,

5 with perforations 2, sprocket feed muiticopy stationery I is fed through the teletypewriter.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a preferred form of the stationery feeding arrangement. As shown in these figures this arrangement comprises two frames 24, 24 fastened to rod 25 which is supported in frame 23 of the teletypewriter. It is to be understood that there is a similar frame 23 on the other side of the teletypewriter, but this has not been shown in order to avoid confusion in the drawing. Each of frames 24, 24 supports a pair of pressure rollers 23, 23. Each, of pres- ,surerollers 23, 23 is rigidly fastened to an axle 21. Rigidly fastened to each axle 21 is a pulley wheel 23.

Driving means comprising a coiled spring belt 23 passing around each pair of pulleys 23 and also around pulley wheel 33 rigidly fastened to axle I5 is provided. It will be remembered that .axle I5 is drivenby some such means as the power supply of the teletypewriter. Pulleys 23 Y and 33 are of such a size and are so arranged that pulleys 23' will rotate in step with the rotation of platen l3 and in a direction counter to that of platen l3. At the same time, due to the action of spring belts 23, 23, rollers 23 are held against platen it under pressure. Therefore, when stationery I is inserted between rollers 23 and platen l3, it will be fed out of the teletypewriter by means of this friction feeding arrangement.

This friction feeding arrangement need not always be constructed as shown in the drawing. If desired, there may be only one pair of pressure rollers 23. If this were the case, they should extend about the entire width of platen I3. Also, they should be; spaced apart a suillcient distance inorder to provide room for type bar 3| to strike against platen l3.

rangement because plain stationery would be apt to be torn bystuds lwhichare designed to travel along rooves 4, 4 in plate 3. some sort of .dis-

tion of belt 5, 5 sufllcientlyhigh above plate 3 so that the tips of studs 3 will be above the top surface of plate 3. Such a disabling means is shown in Fig. '1.

When it is desired to operate the disabling means in order to prepare the teletypewriter for the use of plain unperforated stationery, operating lever 32 is pulled out thereby moving cams 33, 33' into a more nearly vertical position. Bracket 34 rests on cam 33, 33 by means of supports 35, 35. When cams 33,- 33 are moved into a more nearly vertical position, bracket 34 is forced upwards sliding in slots 31, 31. When bracket 34 slides up, rollers I3 and 23, which are supported by bracket 34 are likewise moved up. In so doing, rollers l3 and 23 release belts 5, 5 to a certain extent.

The slack in belts 5, 5 isthen taken up by lever 32 in order to maintain bracket 34 in an elevated position. I

A plurality of teeth 43 are provided in order that bracket 34 may be maintained at various helghtsif desired. A similar bracket 34 is located at the other side of the teletypewriter. For the sake of simplicity, the disabling means on that side is not shown in detail. Cams 4|, 4| on that side are also operated by lever 32 by means of connecting rod 42 which is rigidly fastened to cams 33 and 4|.

It should be understood-that this form of disabling means is merely illustrative of theinvention and may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention. In'fact, it could be modified even to the'extent of having movable side plates, instead of fixed side plates 43, 43,

which could be moved whenever plain stationery is used.

-When it is desired to return the teletypewriter to the condition for using sprocket feed perfoe .rated stationery I, ratchet 33 is disengaged from teeth 43 by any convenient means, such as manual means, and lever 32 is pushed back thereby lowering brackets 34, 34. When brackets 34, 34' are lowered, they lower rollers l3 and 23. Since springs 33, 33 are more powerful than springs 33, 33, belts 5, 5 will be forced down to plate 3 as shown in Fig. l.

Whenever muiticopy stationery is passed around a curved surface, such as-a cylindrical platen, the individual sheets of the muiticopy stationery are misalined longitudinally. In order to compensate for-this type of misalinement, a special kind of sprocket feed muiticopy stationery I may be'used. This special-stationery is shown in Fig. 3. Here it may be observed that when stationery is first fed into the teletypewriter, perforations 2 therein are properly alined for'engaging studs 5 of belts 5, -5 whereas form printing 44 is artificially misalined, or premisalined, longitudinally. When muiticopy stationery begins to pass around the curved surface of platen l3, the individual sheets of stationery I be gin to become misalined longitudinally.

The result is that, upon gving at the printing point indicated by num 45, form printing 44 already upon the individual sheets of stationery I is now properly alined for typing thereon by means of type bar 3|. At the same time, perforations 2 will have become longitudinally misalined with respect to each other as is indicated by numeral. Since perforations 2 are not used for feeding purposes after stationery I arrives at platen IS, the resulting misalinement of perforations 2 has no detrimental efiects.

The teletypewriter has an arrangement for reducing the amount of longitudinal misalinement which occurs when stationery I is passed around the curved surface of platen I6. This arrangement depends upon the fact that plate 3 is located below the bottom of platen I by an appreciable distance. fact that plate 2I and form 22 are arranged to guide stationery I up to printing point 45. By means of this arrangement, stationery I does not touch platen I6, except at printing point 45 and it touches that approximately at a tangent. The longer curve allows the differential in longitudinal misalinement of the individual sheets of the mul'- ticopy stationery I to be adjusted. This type of misalinement can be more effectively reduced if some arrangement, such as that shown in Fig. 4, is used. As shown in Fig. 4,

' stood that the other side of the teletypewriter wires or separating rods 41, located between plate 2I and form 22, are employed for separating each of the individual sheets of multicopy stationery I. Inthis way, a separate path is provided for each sheet of stationery I and each path has a different degree of curvature. This provision of a different length of travel for each sheet compensates for longitudinal misalinement. It also allows the differential in longitudinal misalinement to be adjusted. Separating means other than rods 41, such as a block having a plurality of slits therein, could be used if desired. I

A modification of the invention is shown in Fig. '5. The purpose of this modification is to provide a vertical feeding arrangement for completely avoiding that type of longitudinal misalinement which occurs when multicopy stationery I is passed around the curved surface of platen I6. In Fig. 5, only one side of a part of the teletypewriter is shown. It is to be underis equipped with a similar arrangement.

It is to be noted that pulley wheel 48 is supplied with teeth 49 for engaging perforations I in belt 5 and is also supplied with a driven axle 50 which is driven by any convenient means, such as the power supply of the teletypewriter. It is also to be noted that belt 5 passes around platen I6 in a groove (not shown) provided for that purpose,

Pressure rollers 5|, 5| force belt 5 against a guiding means; namely, plate 52. Stationery I is fed up through the teletypewriter by means of the engagement of studs 6 with perforations 2.

Stationery I thus contacts with platen It only along a line of tangency thereto, this line of tangency on platen It being also only that portion of platen I6 against which type bar 3| strikes during typing operation. By using this arrangement, stationery I need not pass around any curved surface at all, thereby completely avoiding this type of longitudinal misalinement.

This use of the device is illustrative of its operation. The embodiments described will serve to assist in interpreting the claims. The claims are not to be restricted to the precise construction disclosed, but are intended to include all changes and modifications employing the principles and features of operation of the'invention.

It also depends upon the Wherever the term perforations. appears in the claims, it does not refer to those perforations (usually located near the top of a-form sheet) which are sometimes provided for the purpose of filing a form sheet after it has been typed upon. Nor is this term intended to have reference to those perforations which are sometimes provided across the width of a form sheet for facilitating the tearing oil of a form sheet after it has been typed upon. The claims use the term perforations solely in reference to those perforations (usually located in the margins of a form sheet) which are provided for the purpose of co-acting with sprocket feeding instrumentalities.

What is claimed is: a

1. A teletypewriter capable of printing either upon sprocket feed stationery having perforations therein or upon plain unperforated stationery of thesame width as the sprocket feed stationery, said teletypewriter having a platen; apositive drive feeding arrangement comprising a plurality of endless belts for feeding perforated stationery up to said platen and a friction feeding arrangement comprising a plurality of pressure rollers for feeding plain unperforated stationery, said plain unperforated stationery being of the same width as the sprocket feed stationery.

2. A teletypewriter capable of printing either upon sprocket feed stationery having perforatio'ns therein or upon plain unperforated stationery, said teletypewriter having a positive drive feeding arrangement comprising a plurality of studded endless belts for feeding perforated stationery, a friction feeding arrangement comprising a plurality of pressure rollers for feeding plain stationery, and disabling means for rendering the positive drive feeding arrangement inoperative.

3. A teletypewriter capable of printing either upon sprocket feed stationery having perforations therein or upon plain unperforated stationery, said teletypewriter having a positive drive feeding arrangement comprising a plurality of studded endless belts for feeding perforated stationery, a friction feeding arrangement comprising a plurality of pressure rollers for feeding plain stationery, and disabling means for rendering the positive drive feeding arrangement inoperative, said disabling means comprising a plurality of cams and an operating lever.

4. In combination in a teletypewriter for printing upon multicopy stationery, a cylindrical platen, correcting means for adjusting the difference in longitudinal alinement of the individual sheets of the multicopy stationery which occurs when multicopy stationery is passed around the curved bination a cylindrical platen, a plurality of type bars, and correcting means for reducing the amount of that type of longitudinal misalinement of the individual sheets of multicopy stationery which occurs when such stationery is passed around the curved surface of the platen, said correcting means comprising a ding arrangement for causing the stationery to contact with the positlve drive feeding instrumentalities for engaging with and for feeding the stationery, said positive drive feeding instrumentalities including an endless belt, friction feeding instrumentalities including a pressure roller for feeding stationery, and instrumentalities for removing the positive drive feeding instrumentalities from engagement with the stationery. I I

7. A typing device including in combination a platen, a studded belt separate from the platen for feeding stationery up to the platen, friction feeding instrumentalities for feeding stationery over the platen, said friction feeding instrumentalities including a plurality of driven pressure rollers constantly held against the platen under pressure, and driving means for causing the pressure rollers to rotate in a direction counter to that in which the platen rotates, said driving means including a spring belt and pulleys aitached to the platen and the rollers.

8. A printing device having a platen, feeding means for feeding perforated and unperforated stationery, said feeding means including positive drive feeding instrumentalities. for use in feeding perforated stationery up to said platen, said positive drive feeding instrumentalities comprising a studded belt, friction feeding instrumentalities for feeding unperforated stationery,

tively driven stationery and upon friction fed stationery, said device comprising in combination said unperforated stationery being of the same,

width as the perforated stationery, and a single source of motive power for driving both the positive drive and the friction feeding instrumentalities.

9. A printing device including in combination an endless belt for feeding stationery therein, and an instrumentality for bodily removing the endless belt from engagement with the stationery.

10. A teletypewriter for typing upon perforated stationery, said teletypewriter having positive drive feeding instrumentalities including a plurality of studded endless belts for co-acting with the perforations in the stationery, and instrumentalities for removing the studded endless belts from engagement with the stationery, said instrumentalities including a plurality of cams.

11. A device for typing upon a strip, said device including a platen, a driven belt separate from the platen for feeding thestrip up to the platen, a driven friction feed roller for feeding the stationery, and. a single source of motive power for driving both the belt and the feed roller. f

12. A device for recording intelligence upon a strip, said device including a. platen, a driven belt separate from the platen for feeding the strip upto the platen, additional feeding means for feeding the strip over the platen, and a combination of gears for driving both'the'beltand said additional feeding means.

13. A device controlled ,bytelegraph impulses for printing upon a strip, saiddeviceincluding a platen, a studded belt separate from the platen for feeding the strip up to the'platen, friction feeding means for feeding the strip over the platen and a combination of gears for driving both the belt and the friction feeding means.

14. A device for typing upon a strip, said device including a platen, a studded belt separate- .from the platen for contacting with the" strip to feed the strip up to the platen, and an instrumentality for bodily removing the belt from contact with the strip.

15. A device controlled by telegraph code impulses for' recording intelligence "upon a strip,

said device including a platen, an adjustably mounted studded belt separate from the platen for contacting with the strip to feed the strip up to the platen, and a coiled spring for forcing the studded belt out of contact with the strip. at e 16. A typing device controlled by telegraph impulses and having feedingmeans for feeding stationery, said feeding means including in combination a feeding instrumentality for feeding stationery, additional feeding means for engaging stationery'is passed around the curved surface of the cylindrical platen, said correcting means comprising a separate path for each sheet of stationery while passing around the platen, each path having a different lengthof travel, and a studded belt separate from the platen for feeding 1; e multicopy stationery through the devi up to he platen.

, HOWARD n.

'with the stationery to feed the stationery, and 

